BlackBerry is the latest to take the EMI route after Apple, Samsung and Nokia started selling their smartphones on staggered installment basis. Early this week, Apple offered Rs 7,777 cash back to customers who were willing to exchange their existing smartphone for the iPhone 5. Customers had to pay a part of the cost of the handset upfront and could pay the rest in installments.

Samsung has offered EMI options on the Galaxy S4 while its offering cash back on other smartphones in the Galaxy range such as the Note and Grand.

Customers can purchase the Z10 by paying an EMI of Rs 4,799 per month for nine months. A similar scheme for BlackBerry Curve 9220 is available where customers can use their credit card to buy the device and pay an EMI of Rs 799 per month for 12 months.

Under the schemes, no down payment, no processing fee and 0% interest has been offered. The plan will be rolled out in 2500 BlackBerry outlets across the country by this weekend and will be available in additional 400 outlets by next week.

The launch of this plan reasserts BlackBerry's commitment to make smartphone experience more accessible and affordable to the masses, especially the upwardly mobile youth. The whole proposition of availing the premium experience of BlackBerry Z10 or Curve 9220 by paying a nominal EMI per month is definitely very lucrative and will definitely attract potential customers, the company said Thursday.

The Canadian company has tied up with Idea Cellular where the telco's customers can avail one-year unlimited data plan at Rs 999 in eight circles of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.